Why does God never answer any of my prayers?

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VW

VW

Banned
#41
Dec 22, 2009
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#41
MahogonySnail said:
It can be caused by a demon, it's one of the most obvious ones that can be caused by them.

Luk 8:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
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I find most often that depression is from a sense of hopelessness. The feeling that things are bad, and getting worse, and won't get any better. It does not take much to reach this place, and frankly, I wonder how any person who does not know Jesus ever keeps out of depression. The world as it is today will not make anyone very happy.

When we open ourselves to Jesus, when we give Him all of our troubles, when we give up trying to make things work and let God work, then depression leaves as if it had never been. His joy, and His peace, those are His promises to us. We don't need to pray the problem, for the problem is that we are not trusting in Him. If we open to Him, in trust and love, (hard to separate those two,) He will show us His love and the peace of having God as our keeper.

Yes, sometimes demons can cause depression, and many other mental problems. The presence of Jesus will still cause them to flee. And then He will make a home in the heart of the one so afflicted. And He will heal the heart and the mind, in ways that are hard to believe, even after seeing this many times. There are no formulas for this, only an open heart to the Lord Jesus.
 
Nuhen

Nuhen

Banned
#42
Jan 22, 2010
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#42
VW said:
When we open ourselves to Jesus, when we give Him all of our troubles, when we give up trying to make things work and let God work, then depression leaves as if it had never been. His joy, and His peace, those are His promises to us. We don't need to pray the problem, for the problem is that we are not trusting in Him. If we open to Him, in trust and love, (hard to separate those two,) He will show us His love and the peace of having God as our keeper.
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A very dear little sister of mine suffers from depression, and she's closer to G-d than anyone I know, including myself. She's one of the most spiritually minded people in my life.

So no, depression doesn't always "leave as if it had never been". Even Jeremiah, who was a PROPHET, suffered from depression until his death. He wasn't called the "weeping prophet" because of crocodile tears.
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#43
Jan 8, 2009
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#43
These evil spirits were given specific jobs, they were not mental illnesses.
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Of course they aren't illnesses. But they cause them. Like Nebuchadnezzar who went mad and ate grass like a cow. Or Saul who had to be comforted by David's harp playing when he went a bit loony in the head and threw his spear at David.
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#44
Jan 8, 2009
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#44
No, depression is not a normal state for a child of God to be in. It runs contrary to what the bible teaches Christians should have - joy and peace.
 
Nuhen

Nuhen

Banned
#45
Jan 22, 2010
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#45
MahogonySnail said:
Of course they aren't illnesses. But they cause them. Like Nebuchadnezzar who went mad and ate grass like a cow. Or Saul who had to be comforted by David's harp playing when he went a bit loony in the head and threw his spear at David.
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Those are specific instances where G-d caused people to be loony. Mental illnesses today are not like that.
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#46
Jan 8, 2009
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#46
Really? Aren't you the one saying the old testament is relevant for today and to be followed? It seems you ignore most of it yourself. Why can't God cause people to be loony today for certain purposes, or judgement? Mental illness today is exactly like that.
 
Nuhen

Nuhen

Banned
#47
Jan 22, 2010
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#47
MahogonySnail said:
No, depression is not a normal state for a child of God to be in. It runs contrary to what the bible teaches Christians should have - joy and peace.
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So, what was Jeremiah? Jeremiah was in a constant state of depression until his death, and he was a PROPHET, a man of G-d. But, as you say, children of G-d aren't supposed to be like that - so what was he?
 
Nuhen

Nuhen

Banned
#48
Jan 22, 2010
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#48
MahogonySnail said:
Really? Aren't you the one saying the old testament is relevant for today and to be followed? It seems you ignore most of it yourself. Why can't God cause people to be loony today for certain purposes, or judgement?
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I do not. And I'm not saying G-d can't do that, I'm just saying it's obvious from the facts that He doesn't, and if He does, He doesn't want anyone to know about it because He hides it real well.
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#49
Jan 8, 2009
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#49
Then again I have read stories of Christians suffering in jails who maintained a tremendous sense of God's presence and joy in the midst of their suffering. Even King Daivd might be one example of that from the old testament. So you tell me?
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#50
Jan 8, 2009
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#50
I do not. And I'm not saying G-d can't do that, I'm just saying it's obvious from the facts that He doesn't, and if He does, He doesn't want anyone to know about it because He hides it real well.
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He allows it. Satan still oppresses people today. There's direct correlation between the way people live their lives (usually disobedience) and depression.
 
Nuhen

Nuhen

Banned
#51
Jan 22, 2010
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#51
MahogonySnail said:
Then again I have read stories of Christians suffering in jails who maintained a tremendous sense of God's presence and joy in the midst of their suffering. Even King Daivd might be one example of that from the old testament. So you tell me?
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I think it's obvious from Scripture that we are never promised pie in the sky with sunshine. In fact, Yeshua himself tells us things will NOT be easy.
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#52
Jan 8, 2009
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#52
But He did say no one can take our joy from us:

Joh 16:22 And therefore you now have sorrow. But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
 
Nuhen

Nuhen

Banned
#53
Jan 22, 2010
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#53
MahogonySnail said:
But He did say no one can take our joy from us:

Joh 16:22 And therefore you now have sorrow. But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
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That's not talking about here on earth, it's talking about when Yeshua returns and takes us to heaven. Look at it again: "But I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN" - that implies later, not now.
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#54
Jan 8, 2009
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#54
Also, Jesus spoke about His joy, and transferring it to His disciples , before His crucifixion:

Joh 15:11 I have spoken these things to you so that My joy might remain in you and your joy might be full.

Following in Jesus or Yeshuahs (as you call Him) footsteps, we too should have the same attitude of joy. So, to be following Jesus, is to be joyful, not depressed. And that's one of many differences between the old and new testaments.
 
Nuhen

Nuhen

Banned
#55
Jan 22, 2010
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#55
MahogonySnail said:
Also, Jesus spoke about His joy, and transferring it to His disciples , before His crucifixion:

Joh 15:11 I have spoken these things to you so that My joy might remain in you and your joy might be full.

Following in Jesus or Yeshuahs (as you call Him) footsteps, we too should have the same attitude of joy. So, to be following Jesus, is to be joyful, not depressed. And that's one of many differences between the old and new testaments.
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So depressed people don't have a strong enough walk with G-d. Gotcha.

By the way, you never answered my question about Jeremiah.
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#56
Jan 8, 2009
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#56
Depressed people need help. Instead of downplaying the issue, you could pray for your depressed sister or cast a demon out, it's very simple, you just have to say , "in the name of Jesus, I command you spirit of depression to leave". No one likes or wants to be depressed.
 
Nuhen

Nuhen

Banned
#57
Jan 22, 2010
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#57
MahogonySnail said:
Depressed people need help. Instead of downplaying the issue, you could pray for your depressed sister or cast a demon out, it's very simple, you just have to say , "in the name of Jesus, I command you spirit of depression to leave". No one likes or wants to be depressed.
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I pray for my sister twice a day every day. I'm not downplaying the issue, I think it's a very serious issue, and that's why it angers me that people just chock it up to that person being possessed by some evil spirit.
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#58
Jan 8, 2009
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#58
Whats the difference between saying it's an evil spirit or it's a chemical imbalance in the brain? Both are two plausable causes. Do you think satan doesn't exist or something? Is the concept of an evil demon causing torment for a child of God difficult for you to comprehend?
 
VW

VW

Banned
#59
Dec 22, 2009
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#59
Nuhen said:
A very dear little sister of mine suffers from depression, and she's closer to G-d than anyone I know, including myself. She's one of the most spiritually minded people in my life.

So no, depression doesn't always "leave as if it had never been". Even Jeremiah, who was a PROPHET, suffered from depression until his death. He wasn't called the "weeping prophet" because of crocodile tears.
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I cannot speak for someone I do not know. I can only say that Jesus gives us His joy. Depression will not be an issue when we have the joy of Jesus.

I have known spiritual people who have had all kinds of troubles. Usually because they were looking at the problem and not Jesus.

Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet because he knew the sadness of the Lord over the fall of His people. Read Lamentations.
 
Nuhen

Nuhen

Banned
#60
Jan 22, 2010
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#60
MahogonySnail said:
Whats the difference between saying it's an evil spirit or it's a chemical imbalance in the brain? Both are two plausable causes. Do you think satan doesn't exist or something? Is the concept of an evil demon causing torment for a child of God difficult for you to comprehend?
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Chemical imbalances in the brain - which is what causes depression - are natural. Demons are supernatural. That's the difference.

Yes, I think Satan exists, but here's two fun facts about him, both supported in Scripture:

1) He has only as much power as you give him.
2) He cannot do ANYTHING without G-d's command or approval.
 
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